NOAA issued their official Winter Outlook this year and per the report we will stand a good chance of seeing more of what we experienced last Winter. And that is..more cold!

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A few things to note here. The outlooks that come from NOAA do not say that it will be cold or warm but rather use percentages to tell the story.

In this case the outlook says that we have a greater than normal chance of experiencing below normal temperatures and above normal chances of seeing more rain/snow/ice compared to average.

We all stand a chance of receiving snow-rain-ice this winter. However those in purple have a greater than normal chance of picking up a mix of precip.

So how does this outlook compare to last winter? Last winter was known for the cold. Every single month saw temperatures below normal. However last winter was also very dry for us.

So how should you handle this outlook? Take it for what it's worth. It's an outlook and not a forecast. When these outlooks are made, they take into account large scale features. What it does not take into account are small scale set ups. For example, how many times have you gone into a March Madness Bracket and made a perfect Final Four prediction? Most likely you haven't. And I don't blame you. It's very hard and sometimes little features can throw off your bracket.

The same can be said for Winter Outlook. One little feature can throw us off. So let this outlook give you a general idea but don't plan every day activities around it.